Category Archives: All-Lake Team

Unlike our player rankings, the All-Lake Team isn’t based on college potential (though there are certainly potential college players on the list) but for their performance in the 2012 high school season. The big school team covers Division 1-4 teams.

MVP Drake Harris 6-4 180 Jr WR Grand Rapids Christian

Coach of the Year: Mark Tamminga, Grand Rapids South Christian
This is Tamminga’s fourth season as South Christian’s head coach, where he is 22-18. The Sailors were good if not spectacular in the regular season, 6-3, 4-1 for second place in the O-K Gold. But along the way Tamminga and his staff did a terrific job of introducing young talent to what was a solid core of upperclassman, regrouping from a 4-3 start to make the postseason. Their playoff roster looks a lot different than their season opening roster, and it’s not just underclassmen along for the joy ride, but key parts clicking like vets. And since one of those sophs is QB Jon Wassink, look for this to be the first of three seasons in which Tamminga has South Christian in state title contention.

OFFENSE

QB Jake Brown 6-0 205 Sr Comstock Park
A unique player who combines power running with deliberate yet strong throwing. The result? Comstock Park has made playoff runs in all three years Brown has been under center, reaching the Division 4 semifinals this season. He’s completed 134-of-234 passes for 1,600 yards and 10 TDS to two interceptions; and run for 1,130 yards and 24 TDs.

RB John King 5-11 205 Sr Muskegon
A punishing runner — he also starts at linebacker — who embodies the physical style of a Big Reds team that has earned a Division 2 state semifinals berth. King has run the ball 184 times for 1,474 yards and 17 TDs.

RB Spencer Viening 6-0 215 Jr Zeeland East
Zeeland East was the only team to beat Muskegon, and Viening was the dominant athlete on the field in that one as both a runner and linebacker. He topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second-straight season, taking the ball 186 times for 1,337 yards and 20 TDs, while sharing the backfield with another 1,000-yard rusher, senior Josh Blauwkamp.

OL Jack Ford 6-6 270 Sr Cadillac
He was committed to Central Michigan before the season began, and went on to show the potential of being yet another good Chippewa lineman as his pass blocking improves. Not just big but a bit mean and a hard worker, he and fellow senior tackle Riley Norman helped junior QB Jalen Brooks to run for 1,699 yards and 27 TDs.

OL Antwan Billings 6-4 275 Sr Muskegon
Tackle on the state’s best offensive line, where he’s helped the Big Reds’ veer average over 400 rushing yards per game. Billings didn’t allow a sack all season, and has 73 pancake blocks.

OL Casey Mesbergen 6-2 210 Sr Zeeland West
Mesbergen got it going at guard for a Dux wing-T that no one was able to stop all year. If Zeeland West lost, it was just because the other team outscored them. They had three backs with at least 850 rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns, led by junior Marcus Lambert’s 1,659 yards and 16 TDs. Mesbergen also started at linebacker.

OL Connor Hayes 6-3 290 Jr Traverse City West
There were five possible D1 offensive lineman in the Big North, but Hayes is the only one who doesn’t play a tackle. He’s a mauler who also has to mix it up and pass block for TC West. Hayes has offers from CMU, WMU, Pitt, Syracuse and Indiana.

OL Adam Klage 6-2 295 Sr Mattawan
He was an all-conference center the past two seasons. He keyed the trap blocking that afforded Mattawan’s wing-T offense two 1,000-yard rushers, Trevor Sweeney and Brock Lamorandier. Klage is committed to Northern Michigan.

WR Drake Harris 6-4 180 Jr Grand Rapids Christian
So often with the Eastside recruiting hype machine, you get kids who are workout warriors or look nice in tight shirts and the Internet fanboys go gaga, only to find out that when the pads go on it’s a different story, dude can’t really play football. Often this happens too late — once they’d signed with a top 25 team. Harris is different, embodying his Westside roots with substance to justify the buzz. The Michigan State commitment earned his stock by dominating on the field of play. If GR Christian reaches the Division 3 state final, he will likely end up setting the state single-season receiving record. He’s caught 76 balls for 1,556 yards and 15 TDS — finding the end zone in all 12 of the Eagles’ games.

WR Dylan Smith 6-2 180 Sr Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills
The all-time receiving leader at Kenowa Hills by nearly 600 yards, Smith was the top offensive threat on a playoff team. He caught 64 passes for 1,237 yards and 13 TDs and also had two special teams TDs.

TE Patrick Cvengros 6-2 180 Sr East Grand Rapids
EGR coach Peter Stuursma calls Cvengros one of the most versatile tight ends he’s had with the Pioneers. He caught 22 passes for 325 yards and four TDs. He was also an outstanding blocker, with Cvengros and another undersized but fast lineman, junior Troy Gotch, helping clear the way for senior Jahaan Brown to run for 1,612 yards and 15 TDs.

K Joel Schipper 5-11 180 Sr Grand Rapids Christian
Going into Grand Rapids Christian’s Division 3 semifinal game, Schipper has connected on 11-of-13 field goals, with a long of 48 yards. On PATs he’s a perfect 61-of-61. Of 82 kickoffs, 42 have been touch-backs. He’s narrowed his college choices to Michigan State and Western Michigan.

DEFENSE

DL Jacob Howe 6-2 240 Jr Forest Hills Northern
From his D-end spot, Howe had 78 tackles, including 14 for loss with four sacks. He forced two fumbles. Howe is an all-around contributor, a three-year, two-way player, as well as the Huskies’ kicker and punter. Howe’s 42.3 yards per punt is a school record, as is his 67-yard punt. He rushed for eight TDs.

DL Kenneth Finley 6-3 255 Jr Muskegon
He was already being recruited across the nation, and that attention should increase after last Saturday in Midland, where Finley and senior teammate Ronald Jenkins overwhelmed who Tom Lemming says may be the country’s No. 1 tackle prospect, Midland’s Steve Elmer. The scary thing for offensive linemen of the future is that Finley is still just learning how to play defensive tackle. Going into the Division 2 semifinals, Finley has 76 tackles and three recovered fumbles.

DL Chris Hendricks 6-5 265 Jr Fruitport
In his first season at Fruitport, Hendricks had a major impact on both sides of the ball as a defensive and offensive tackle for this playoff team. Hendricks collapsed lines, pressured QBs and had 60 tackles. He’s being recruited by U-M, MSU, WMU and Temple.

LB Will Hunt 5-11 225 Jr Muskegon
As strong as Muskegon is up front, perhaps the purest football player in the unit is this junior linebacker. Hunt is fast and delivers a wallup. He’s the Big Reds’ leading tackler.

LB Joe Craven 5-11 205 Sr Grand Rapids Catholic Central
The big hitter from a defense that held five opponents scoreless. Craven had over 100 tackles and finishes up as Catholic Central’s career tackles leader.

LB Matthew Hall 6-1 210 Sr Grand Rapids Christian
The veteran stalwart of a young defense that has improved to state championship form. Hall is the Eagles’ leading tacker for the second year in a row. Going into the Division 3 state semifinals, he has 130 tackles.

LB Nic Lamica 6-4 210 Sr Forest Hills Central
The Rangers didn’t have enough players to field a JV team. With the energy Lamica plays with, he could’ve held down multiple positions for them on Thursday, and still starred on Friday in the Lake Michigan area’s toughest league — the O-K White. He covered the whole field with his big frame and 4.6 speed. Lamica was also Forest Hills Central’s leading receiver with 364 yards and three TDs.

DB Ryheem Stokes 5-11 170 Sr Grand Rapids Catholic Central
The most dynamic, exciting player in the Lake area whenever he got his hands on the ball. Line him up at any skill position and he becomes the dominant player on the field. Over the course of CC’s 10-1 season, Stokes had an 183-yard, three TD game receiving; a 181-yard, two TD game rushing; returned an interception 103 yards for a TD; returned a kickoff for a 75-yard TD; blocked a punt and returned it for a TD; ran for over 100 yards against Comstock Park’s loaded defense. Stokes finished the year with 1,400 all-purpose yards, four interceptions and 16 TDs.

DB Heath Hoogerhyde 6-1 215 Sr Caledonia
Versatile, impact player for one of the Lake’s best defenses. Hoogerhyde is big and tackles like a linebacker, but is athletic enough to be a cover guy. He had one of the top performances anyone has turned in all season in Caledonia’s regional win at Mattawan. Hoogerhyde spied All-Lake running back Trevor Sweeney holding him to his lowest output of the season, while himself rushing for 207 yards and two TDs. He finished the year with 112 tackles and nine interceptions, while totaling over 1,400 yards running and receiving from running back.

DB Ryan Verhelst 6-1 175 Sr West Ottawa
He rarely left the field for West Ottawa, and was the most dangerous skill position player in the O-K Red. Verhelst made 41 tackles, caused two fumbles, broke up six passes and made five interceptions, two of which he brought all the way back for TDs. As a receiver he caught 39 passes for 630 yards and 13 TDs. He had an 85-yard punt return TD.

Unlike our player rankings, the All-Lake Team isn’t based on college potential (though there are certainly potential college players on the list) but for their performance in the 2012 high school season. The small school team covers Division 5-8 teams.

MVP: Daniel Green 6-0 280 DL/OL Grand Rapids West Catholic

Coach of the Year: Andy Busch, Newaygo
Busch became Newaygo’s head coach a week before practice started in August. All the Lions did was go 9-3 and reach a Division 5 regional where they lost to Grand Rapids West Catholic, but gained nearly unanimous respect in the game. All this at a school that as recently as 2009 and 2010 had consecutive 0-9 seasons.

OFFENSE

QB Jake Swander 5-11 170 Jr Grayling
It was his first year as Grayling’s starting quarterback in what proved to be the perfect merger of arm and system. Swander simply lit it up. He completed 175-of-340 passes for 2,888 yards and 22 TDs and 8 interceptions. He also ran for two TDs.

RB Geovante Weston 5-11 190 Sr Kalamazoo Hackett
Weston was a classic workhorse back for Hackett. He carried the ball 197 times for 1,575 yards and 14 TDs. He had a game to remember against Parchment, when Weston’s number was called 52 times — the third-highest single-game total in state history — and ended up with 423 yards, the 16th best effort in state history.

RB Adam Vosberg 6-2 185 Sr RB Gobles
A Division 7 Eric Dickerson, this was Vosberg’s third season topping 1,000 rushing yards. He ran 223 times for 1,707 yards and 26 TDs. For his career Vosberg ran for 4,314 yards and 60 TDs.

WR David Kuzma 6-3 175 Sr Grand Rapids West Catholic
The varsity transition for West Catholic sophomore quarterback Travis Russell was eased by the presence at receiver of Kuzma, a big, veteran target. At no time did that connection prove more crucial than in their comeback playoff opening win at Hopkins, when Kuzma had two fourth-quarter TD catches. Going into the Division 5 semifinals, Kuzma has caught 93 passes for 1,486 yards and 15 TDs.

WR Brandon Moore 6-3 195 Sr Montague
He started the season at QB, but also got in some reps at receiver along the way, and is the Lake’s No. 1 senior prospect at the position. He ended up passing for 506 yards and three TDs, running for 535 yards and 11 TDs and receiving 219 yards and three TDs. A four-year letter winner and state champion, Moore will be remembered as one of the all-timers in the proud history of Montague football.

OL Dalton Sulz 6-2 255 Sr Mancelona
He just leveled defenders trap blocking in Mancelona’s double-wing offense. Mancelona coach Boo Derrer called Sulz the toughest, most hard-nosed kid he’s had in 18 years coaching. He was also a standout linebacker for the Ironmen, who went 9-0 in the regular season.

OL Devin Ruppert 6-2 195 Sr Pine River
Ruppert was Pine River’s top player on both sides of the ball. He was the offensive leader at tackle, while collecting 131 tackles as a linebacker. He’s the school’s all-time leader with 238 tackles.

OL Matt Modreske 6-7 300 Sr Hopkins
There was nothing fancy about Hopkins’ power offense, or Modreske’s approach, but they worked. At left tackle, he was the most physically intimidating small school lineman in the Lake area. Modrekse man-handled the competition in the O-K Silver as Hopkins went 9-0 in the regular season.

OL Tony Kucharski 5-11 200 Sr Hartford
How versatile and valuable is Kucharski? A one-time running back, as a senior he was first-team SAC South as both an offensive lineman and linebacker. He helped clear the way for an Indians rushing game that totaled over 3,000 yards in while averaging over 8 yards per carry. Defensively he totaled 99 tackles, including three sacks.

OL Zach Murphy 6-3 210 Sr Muskegon Oakridge
An outstanding center who also played on the defensive line and blocked a field goal attempt on special teams. Opened holes for talented junior running back Dan Shoop as Oakridge went 9-0 in the regular season and won the West Michigan Conference crown.

TE Zach Decker 6-5 210 Sr Schoolcraft
Schoolcraft could line him up from various spots, and with his size was a very tough cover at the Division 6 level. Decker was the leading receiver for a Schoolcraft team that went 9-0 in the regular season.

K Tanner Nutting 5-10 140 Jr Saugatuck
Nutting connected on 6-of-10 field goals, including a long of 41, and 26-of-29 extra points. He hit the game-winning field goal in overtime against Bangor. On kickoffs, Nutting had 14 touch-backs on 42 attempts.

DEFENSE

DL Daniel Green 6-0 280 Sr Grand Rapids West Catholic
Green has been a stalwart of three West Catholic teams that won the Division 5 state championship his sophomore season, and has now won two more regional titles. He gives you everything you need at defensive tackle, as he can occupy double teams, bull rush one-on-one or avoid blockers altogether with surprising agility. As a senior Green had 51 tackles, including 11 for loss.

DL Nate Schafer 6-0 200 Sr Beal City
Schafer is a two-way defensive tackle and center for Beal City, which is undefeated and playing in the Division 8 semifinals. In the regular season, Shafer had 43 tackles, including two sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

DL Cari Campbell 6-2 220 Sr Muskegon Catholic Central
He’s been a three-year starter on some terrific MCC teams, including the current version which is still alive in the Division 8 playoffs. He dominates as a rush end at the Class D level, recording 54 tackles and returning an interception for a 68-yard TD.

LB Mike O’Brien 6-3 215 Sr Maple City Glen Lake
An all-state basketball player, O’Brien’s athleticism and strength served him on the grid as well. He was named Northwest Conference MVP after Glen Lake went through the league schedule with a clean slate. He also started at tight end. He had the play of the game in Glen Lake’s Division 6 playoff win against Boyne City, shutting down a fourth-and-goal attempt. O’Brien was also at his best against the best team on the Lakers’ schedule, leading the way with 12 tackles in a playoff loss to Shelby.

LB Ben Schroeder 5-11 175 Sr Shelby
Shelby’s defense has strong players at all three levels, with the likes of Kyle McGrew and Dillion Ankney up front, and Nathan Lentz and Shane Kajtazi in the backfield. Cleaning up at linebacker is Schroeder. Going into Shelby’s Division 6 state semifinal with Ithaca, Schroeder has 140 tackles (including 20 against Whitehall) and two interceptions. In Shelby’s second-round playoff win, it was Schroeder’s hit on Glen Lake’s QB that caused a fumble resulting in a 39-yard TD.

LB Jacob Marsh 5-11 205 Sr Montague
He leads the All-Lake team with 145 tackles, two more than his junior campaign when Marsh had 143 stops. He had some ridiculous efforts, like 27 against Mason County Central and 26 against Whitehall. A three-year starter, Marsh had two sacks and two interceptions.

LB Larry VanBuren 5-10 190 Jr Evart
VanBurn anchored a defense that helped Evart reach a Division 6 district final, the best playoff run in school history. He had 97 tackles, including nine sacks, and recovered three fumbles.

LB Ben Mallo 5-7 170 Sr Constantine
Mallo is bueno, a two-way standout for Constantine’s 2011 Division 6 state finalist team, and this year’s state semifinalist version. He is the Falcons’ leading tackler and also the top rusher having run for 1,251 yards and 12 TDs.

DB Andon Ware 5-11 170 Sr Baldwin
He’s so talented, Ware is receiving GLIAC and MAC recruiting attention despite playing at a Division 8 school. He had 74 tackles and eight interceptions — three of which he returned for TDs. As a running back, Ware ran 90 times for 1.074 yard. He had 20 total TDs.

DB Alex Lewandoski 5-10 180 Jr Muskegon Catholic Central
Even on a team with a lot of speed for Division 8, Lewandoski stands out with his playmaking ability. After starting at linebacker as a sophomore, he’s evolving into the star MCC needed back there after the graduation of Jacob Budde, and he’s still playing into the state semifinals. He had 70 tackles in the regular season, while rushing for 806 yards.

DB Travis Bolin 5-9 165 Sr Watervliet
When you can run in the 4.5 range at a Division 6 school, you’re likely to make an impact, and Bolin put together monster back-to-back years as a two-way receiver and defensive back. He made six interceptions and recorded 30 tackles as a senior. Bolin ended up with 15 career picks. Offensively he caught 45 passes for 969 yards and 24 TDS and ran for 448 yards and 5 TDs. He also served as the Panthers’ kicker, averaging over 40 yards a punt while converting 35 PATs.

The first-ever “All-Lake Teams” and “All-Lake Player of the Year” will soon be selected, and we need your input! We will be accepting nominations for the top players in each position and the top player overall in The Lake coverage area. Be sure your voice is heard by submitting your nominees via email to LakeMichiganFootballReport@gmail.com. Please include the following in your nomination:

The first-ever “All-Lake Teams” and “All-Lake Player of the Year” will soon be selected, and we need your input! We will be accepting nominations for the top players in each position and the top player overall in The Lake coverage area. Be sure your voice is heard by submitting your nominees via email to LakeMichiganFootballReport@gmail.com. Please include the following in your nomination: